Holy
Friday
A
certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander
and
Rufus, was passing by on his way in from
the
country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
Mark
15:21
Friday morning brought Jesus before Pilate, who knew the Man before him was innocent. Fearing political blow-back from all sides, he waffled back and forth between guilt and innocence. When Pilate finally caved under the pressure of the rioting crowd, Jesus was beaten again. Then the cross was placed on His back, and He was commanded to haul it to the
crucifixion site. It was soon evident
that this would be a physical impossibility, so the Romans grabbed the first
man within arm’s reach, and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
We know little about Simon, other than he was a
foreigner and a father. We don’t know
why he was in Jerusalem, or if his sons were with him. What we do know is that God blessed him with
a front row seat as Christ, staggering to His own death, reached out in love to
the people who lined the roadway. I hope Simon stayed around after he
was relieved of his burden, to see Christ’s love and compassion for all those surrounding
Him that day… the people, His mother, the religious
leaders, the soldiers, the two thieves crucified next to Him. I hope Simon came away convicted that this
Man, this Jesus of Nazareth, was indeed the long-promised Messiah, the Son of
God.
*
O,
how He loves you and me. O, how He loves
you and me.
He
gave His life – what more could He give?
O,
how He loves you; O, how He loves me;
O,
how He loves you and me.
Jesus
to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show.
What
He did there brought hope from despair.
O,
how He loves you; O, how He loves me;
O,
how He loves you and me.
(The
Faith We Sing, No. 2108)
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